The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-28
FRIEND OF TuHE SOLDIER.
President CleVeIand's Record
I'm the Matter OfPensiOns.
Washington, July IS, 1887.

Herald, and subsequently referred to
the Pension Bureau, read as follows
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD =
VIII you oblige an old reader of
your valuable journal by publishing
the statement of all the pensions sign
ed by Gen, Grant, General Garfield,
Chester A. Arthur and Grover Cleve-
land? My object is to show to the
people of this country that the Grand
Army of the Republic had no better
friend than our present President, and
| am..sure that the statistics will prove
it. VETERAN 16G1-1S65.
The Pension Bureau has been at
considerable labor to prepare statistics
in answer to the above letter. As an
earnest that the president is in har-
mony with the loyal sentiment of the
country and not in conflict with the
Grand Army of the Republic or sol
dier's interest, the following figures
are given from official sources and
show record unmatched in the his
tory OF pension legislation =
BEATING THE RECORD.
During Grants first administration
32l special acts were approved dur
ing his second, 254, Hayes approved
SO9 special acts. During Arthur's ad-
ministration 73G were approved. In
the first two years Of President Cleve-
lands administration he approved
S36, or 275 per cent more than during
Chants first term, 240 per cent more
than during Grants second term and
nearly double the number, or 100 per
cent more than in Grants two terms.
President Cleveland has approved 1873
per cent more than Hayes and over
II per cent more than Garfield and
Arthur combined. AS still further
manifestation of the attitude of the
present democratic administration to-
ward the Union soldiers the pay rolls
OF the Pension Office alone, a bureau
more closely connected with The sol
diers OF the country than any other,
show that out of l, ,531 employees 831, or
fifty-four per cent, are either soldiers
or sailors widows, sons or daughters,
while Only 700 are civilians, most of
whom occupy the minor positions, as
messengers, watchmen, &c. Three
hundred and seventy soldiers or their
kindred occupy the higher positions,
paying 81 200 and upward, against 292
civilians, a difference in favor of the
soldiers of nearly twenty-seven per
cent.
GENERAL BLACKS APPOINTMENTS.
Out of 416 appointments made by
General Black from March II, 1885, to
June 80, 1887, $50 were soldiers or sol
diers' kindred and 1856 were civilians
net difference in favor of the soldier
of forty-four, or nearly twenty-four
per cent. Fifteen out of the eighteen
United States pension agents, reciev-
ing a salary of $4,000 per annum each,
are among the number of ex-Union
soldiers appointed, and one is the wild
ow OF brave General Mulligan, whose
fame is associated with the battle of
Lexington, Mo. The only two who
hold over from previous administra-
tions are distinguished ex-Union sol
diers who have been severely wounded
Geneaal Black has appointed twenty
nine ex-Union soldiers in excess of the
total number dropped from the roll by
death, discharge, resignation or other
wise, and this, with 100 employees less
than were on the rolls during the last
fiscal year OF the previous admins
tration, would make a net difference
in favor OF 179, which upon the basis
of the total number upon the pay
rolls the last fiscal year would leave al
present almost twelve per cent more
soldiers, sailors or their widows anC
kindred, than were ever upon its pay
roll in.th history of the office,
1t would not seem that the first
democratic administration since th,
war had neglected the soldier inter
ests so far as concerns the Pension Blu
reau, so closely associated with thei
welfare By the introduction Of soun(
! business principals into the manage
ment OF the Pension Bureau more
pensions have been issued and the ex
ecution OF the pension laws havesbeel
fuller, more prompt and more impair
tial than in any former administration
For the first time in the history Q
!. the government the case Of every az
E. plicant is either disposed of or actual
: ly undergoing consideration.
Good Results i'm Every Case.
= D. A. Bradford, wholesale pape
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